Hog-trap



S. LOPFER.

(N Mde'l.)

HUG TRAP.

Patented Jan., 10.1888.

SOZomo?? E WITWESISES .Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON LOFFER, OF MAITLAND, MISSOURI.

Hoc-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,388, dated January 10,1888.

Application` tiled October 14, 1887. Serial No. 252,312. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SOLOMON LOFFE a, a citizen of the United StatesV of America, residing at Maitland, in the county of Holt and State of Missouri, have invented certaiufnew and useful Improvements in Hog-Stanchions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication. f

My invention relates to an improvement in animal-stocks; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an animal-stock which is adapted for use as a trap for ringing and snouting hogs, as a stock-chute for loading animals, or as a rack for conveying them when loaded, the parts thereof being simple and effective in their construction and operation and positilve in their ultimate result. I attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein like lettersof reference-indicate similar' parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my im` provement shown arranged as a trap. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section thereof shown arranged asastock-chute for loading purposes.

A A indicate the side slats, which are mounted upon standards or posts B B, secured to base-strips C C. The front standards, B,

- have metallic clips b secured to their upper opposing sides for the reception of the reduced lower ends of posts sion-frames D.

On the two forward cross brace strips, C, a short flooring, E, is secured, which has atop metallic covering, E. A rear adjustable flooring, F, is secured to the stationary fiooring E by hinges f. The under side'of the frame F has an elongated link, F', centrally secured thereto, in which the angular bent lifting portion of a lever, G, operates. The said lever G is preferably'constructed from a metallic rod and bent into the shape shown, having an operating-handle, g, projecting along one side of D of supplemental exten-v the stock. The adjustable flooring Fis also partially covered with a top metallic sheathing adjacent to'the hinges f and contiguous to the sheathing E on the stationary iooring E.

The front portion of the stock is provided with a gate, H, which is hinged to,7 one side thereof, and has a series of stanchions, H', mounted therein.v One of said stanchions is pivot-ally securedat its lower end between the lower binding-strips, h, and is free to move at its upper end between the top binding-strips, h. Two metallic connecting-bars, H", are secured y.to the upper portion of said movable stanchion at their inner ends, and at their outer ends are attached to a vertical lever, H3, pivotally secured at its lower end between the outer portions of the lower binding-strips, h. l

When the lever H3 is operated to adjust the stanchion in connection therewith, a space is formed between the inner edge of the said lever and the outer edge of the adjacent stanchion, in which a wedge-strip, I, is inserted to retain the said adjustment.

The stanchion nearest the hinged portion of the gate H is reduced at its upper portion, as

at h2, to permit the adjustable stanchion to be thrown back and form an enlarged opening. When the gate is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, a suitable loop, h3, secured thereto, is pressed over a hook or headed stud, h, and thereby securely fastens the same.

Y The top K ofthe stock (shown in Fig. l) is hung to the top longitudinal slats, A, by hooks lc, secured near the four corners of the said top. This top K is virtually the foot-board or ineline when the device is converted into a stockchute, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with transverse footboards K', to prevent the'animals from slipping in their ascent. When this board or incline is mounted in its proper position, the adjustable flooring F is lowered,and the-two hooks k, near one end, are adjusted in connection with the longitudinal slats,as shown in Fig. 2, in such a manner that the opposite end of the board rests on the flooring F, adjacent to the rear of the stock. The extensions D are then mounted on each side of the upper end of the said board, for a purpose which is apparently obvious.

In using the stock as a trap the board or ineline Kis mounted as a top covering, the gate H shut and fastened,with the adjustable stanbut form a slippery surface to prevent the animal from endeavoring to ascend the ilooring F. Seeing the opening formed by the adj ustablc stanohiou, the animal will instinctively thrust his head therethrough. The lever H"i is drawn outward from the gate, drawing the stanehion therewith and reducing the size ofthe opening` and retaining the animals head, as shown in Fig. l, and the wedgestrip I inserted to hold the lever out. The animal may then be ringed or snouted, and when either one of said operations is completed he is released and set free by opening the gate H.

To convert the stock into a carryingrack, the flooring F is lowered and an end-gate connected to the rear of the frame.

Suitable braces will be employed wherever necessary to strengthen the stock.

rlhe utility and adaptability of my improve ment being obviously apparent, it is unnecessary to further enlarge upon the same herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination, with the frame, ofthe stationary and adjustable flooring, the incline or foot board having the suspending-hooks, and the supplemental frames or extensions, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the frame, of the stationary ilooring having a metallic sheathing, the adjustable flooring hinged to said stationary ilooring, and also having a metallic sheathing and an under elongated loop, the liftinglever G, having the angularly-bent portion and a projecting handle, the gate H, having the movable stanchion, the lever for operating said stauchion, the wedge-strip, and the suspended top board adapted to be removed and used as an incline for loading purposes, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the frame, of the stationary and adjustable flooring, the lifting lever for operating the adjustable flooring, the topsuspended convertible board K,the hinged gate having an adjustable stanchion, the operating-lever, thelink-platcs connecting said operating-lever with the adjustable stanchion, and the wedge-strip for retaining the lever in its adjusted position, substantially as de! scribed.

In testimony whereof l atix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON LOFFER.

Witnesses:

D. A. GnLviN, D. P. Lnwrs. 

